Tuesday, February 25, 2025

The 75th Anniversary of Your Show of Shows

Clockwise from the left, Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, and Imogene Coca

It was 75 years ago today, on February 25 1950, that Your Show of Shows debuted on NBC. It is impossible to overestimate the importance of Your Show of Shows.  It was one of the earliest comedy variety shows and would have a lasting influence on future sketch comedy shows. It introduced the world to performers who would become legends: Sid Casesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris. To this day it is ranked among the greatest shows ever made.

Given the place Your Show of Shows occupies in television history, it should come as no surprise that it was created by two legends. Sylvester "Pat" Weaver was truly pioneering NBC executive. He not only created Your Show of Shows, but also Today and The Tonight Show with Steve Allen, among other programs. Producer Max Liebman could be considered the co-creator of Your Show of Shows. For many years Max Liebman had been the theatre director at Tamiment, a resort in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. He also produced several shows on Broadway.

Max Liebman had earlier created the television variety show Admiral Broadway Revue, which aired simultaneously on NBC and DuMont, making it one of the few shows to air on two different television networks at once. Admiral Broadway Revue could be considered a forerunner of Your Show of Shows in more way than one. Not only was it directed by Max Leibman, but it starred Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. Mr. Leibman had earlier worked with Miss Coca on The Straw Hat Revue at Tamiment and later Broadway. Sid Caesar had also worked with Max Liebman prior to Admiral Broadway Revue. He had worked with Mr. Leibman while still in the Coast Guard in the production Tars and Spars and then on Broadway Make Mine Manhattan. Some of the writers from Admiral Broadway Revue would later work on Your Show of Shows, including Mel Brooks, Lucille Kallen and, Mel Tolkin. Admiral Broadway Revue proved to be popular, but ultimately only lasted form January 28 1949 to June 3 1949. The show was so popular that it increased demand for Admiral television sets so much that Admiral could not keep up with the demand. Admiral then cancelled Admiral Broadway Revues so they could shift the money used for the show into manufacturing TV sets.

The ninety-minute long Your Show of Shows was the second half of a two and half hour programming block called Saturday Night Revue. The first half was hosted by comedian Jack Carter.  The Saturday Night Revue would only last until 1951, but Your Show of Shows proved popular enough to last until 1954. Although best remembered for its comedy sketches, Your Show of Shows not only featured sketches, but also musical numbers, stand-up comedians, and yet other acts. Your Show of Shows featured a wide array of guest performers, including Eddie Albert, Robert Cummings, Tom Ewell,  Nanette Fabray, Nina Foch, Paulette Goddard, Marilyn Maxweell, and yet others. Even Kukla, Fran, and Ollie guest starred on Your Show of Shows.

Of course, the writers who worked on Your Show of Shows are now legendary. Although he was also a member of the cast, Carl Reiner also numbered among the writers on the show. Among the other writers were the aforementioned Mel Brooks, Lucille Kallen, and Mel Tolkin. Among the other writers were Selma Diamond, Danny Simon, and  Neil Simon. Contrary to popular belief, Woody Allen did not work on Your Show of Shows, although he would write for Sid Caesar's specials following the end of Caesar's Hour.

The cast of Your Show of Shows would change very little throughout its run. Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca were with the show from the beginning. Originally they were supported by Tom Avera, who was replaced by Carl Reiner after the first season. Howard Morris joined the show just a little later. Choreographer James Starbuck (another veteran of Admiral Broadway Revue) also occasionally appeared on the show. In addition to Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris the show also included singer Bill Hayes, singer Judy Johnson, The Hamilton Trio, and opera singer Marguerite Piazza.

Of course, Your Show of Shows remains best remembered for its sketches. Among these were sketches featuring recurring characters, such as the Hickenloopers, a mismatched couple; storyteller Somerset Winterset; The Professor, who was seemingly an expert on every subject under the sun, The vocal trio The Haircuts;and yet others. Of course, among the best known sketches of Your Show of Shows were its parodies of movies, TV shows, and plays. Among its most famous parodies is "This is Your Story," a parody of the show This is Your Life. Among the films spoofed on the show was the foreign film and now the classic The Bicycle Thief (1948).

Your Show of Shows remained popular in its fourth season, even though it had declined slightly from its height in the ratings. NBC then decided to spin Sid Casear and Imogene Coca off into their own shows. Caesar's Hour debuted on September 27 1954 and, in addition to Sid Caesar, featured Howard Morris and Carl Reiner. It lasted three seasons. The Imogene Coca Show debutd on October 2 1954 and did not prove as successful as Caesar's Hour. It only lasted one season, despire including Mel Brooks and Bill Dana among its writers.

Your Show of Shows was broadcast live, and all that survives of Your Show of Shows are kinescopes. Sadly, this means that many of the series's sketches are either missing or only partially complete. It was in 1973 that a compilation of ten sketches form the show, Ten From Your Show of Shows, was released theatrically. In 1976 a series of half-hour compilations of sketches from Your Show of Shows were syndicated on American television. It was later run on Comedy Central. Compilations of sketches have been released on DVD.

Your Show of Shows was a truly revolutionary show. It is to sketch comedy shows what I Love Lucy is to sitcoms and Tonight Starring Steve Allen is to late night talk shows. It pioneered everything from recurring sketches to movie parodies and established many of the tropes of sketch comedy shows. TV series from The Carol Burnett Show to The Muppet Show to Saturday Night Live have all been influenced by Your Show of Shows. Its cast would go onto further successes. Carl Reiner would create The Dick Van Dyke Show. Howard Morris would become a successful television director and is remembered as Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show. Its writers, from Mel Brooks to Neil Simon, would go onto further success as well. Seventy-five years after it debuted, Your Show of Shows remains one of the most influential shows of all time.

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Samsung Should Keep Samsung Messages

Last September on my phone some times when I opened Samsung Messages there would be a prompt at the top of the app urging me to "upgrade" to Google Messages. After this happened a couple of times I went to the Samsung Members Community. There I found many who were complaining about the prompt to "upgrade" to Google Messages and I complained myself. Fortunately, the prompt stopped not long after that. Unfortunately, the prompts started again last week. This time I have complained on both the Samsung Members community and sent feedback to Samsung. Quite simply, I have no desire to switch to Google Messages or ever use Google Messages.

As to the reason for the prompt, last year it seems Samsung made the decision to prioritize Google Messages over their own Samsung Messages. As early as last July,, Samsung Messages no longer came pre-installed on the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6. It was in September that Samsung users (including myself) started getting the prompts to "upgrade" to Google Messages. Last month Samsung Messages was removed from the Google Play Sore, but it remains available on the Samsung Store. What is more, Samsung even updated Samsung Messages last month. It was also last month that Samsung caused some alarm when they said they were sunsetting Samsung Messages. Fortunately, it turns out Samsung had misspoken, as they clarified that Samsung Messages would remain available in the Galaxy Store. At least for now, it seems that Samsung Messages will remain available, even if it does not come pre-installed on newer phones.

Regardless given the anger Samsung users have expressed over the idea of Samsung Messages being discontinued or being forced to use Google Messages, I think it would be unwise for Samsung to discontinue Samsung Messages. Both last September and in the past week there have been a number of posts to the Samsung Members Community complaining about the prompts to "upgrade"to Google Messages. It seems a large number of people not only love Samsung Messages, but they absolutely hate Google Messages and refuse to switch to it. And, quite frankly, I can understand the reason why.

There is a reason I have put the word "upgrade"in quotation marks when discussing prompts to switch from Samsung Messages to Google Messages.From my standpoint changing from Samsung Messages to Google Messages would more properly be termed a "downgrade" It would be switching from a superior app to an inferior one. In my opinion Google Messages has one of the ugliest, most unwieldy interfaces ever made. It is certainly less user friendly than the Samsung Messages' interface. 

Samsung Messages also has features that Google Messages lacks. One can change the background colour of conversations or even add a background image. Samsung Messages has  recycle bin, so one can restore deleted messages up to 30 days. One an even sort conversations into categories. One big advantage for those of us who use other Samsung apps is that Samsung Messages is fully integrated with Calendar, Notes, and so on.

As to Google Messages, the one advantage it has that Samsung Messages does not is that one can easily access Google Messages on Windows PCs. Accessing Samsung Messages on a Windows PC is a bit trickier and requites one install the Link to Windows or Phone Link apps. Another thing Google Messages has that is lacking in Samsung Messages is support for RCS (Rich Communications Services). As for myself, I don't see this as a disadvantage. I do not use RCS myself nor do I wan to. I am perfectly happy with SMS and MMS.

Beyond whatever advantages either app might have, I also have to point out that another reason to use Samsung Messages is that Google already has something of a choke hold when it comes to Android apps. When the last time many people used a maps app other than Google Maps? How many Android users use Meet instead of another video communication app on their phones? Rightly or wrongly, Google has faced antitrust suits. In making Samsung Messages, Samsung provides Google with a bit of competition that it might not have otherwise.

I have used Samsung Messages ever since I first got a smart phone. I have tried out Google Messages and I have never found it to my liking. I consider Google Messages to be a far inferior app to Samsung Messages to the point that if Samsung does discontinue Samsung Messages, I will simply download and install another SMS app. I certainly will not downgrade to Google Messages. What is more, there are apparently many people like me. Given that, Samsung should not only continue to make Samsung Messages, but they should start pre-installing it on their phones again, make it the default messaging app on their phones, and make it available on the Play Store again.

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Lynne Marie Stewart Passes On

Lynne Marie Stewart, who played Miss Yvonne on  Pee-wee's Playhouse and Charlie's mom Bonnie on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, died on February 21 2025 at the age of 78.

Lynne Marie Stewart was born on December 14 1946 in Los Angeles. She began her career as one of the legendary comedy troupe The Groundlings, which is where she met Paul Reubenes (best known for his character Pee-Wee Herman) and Phil Hartman. She made her film debut in 1971 in the movie Drive, He Said. In the Seventies she appeared in the movies American Graffiti (1973), Your Three Minutes Are Up (1973), I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now (1975), Tunnelvision (1976),l I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977), Cracking Up (1977), Loose Shoes (1978), and The Last Married Couple in America (1980). She was a regular on the short-lived sitcom Husbands, Wives & Lovers.  She appeared on the TV shows Temperatures Rising; The F.B.I.;, Karen, Hawaii Five-O; M*A*S*H; Quincy, M.E;, Alice;, America 2-Night;and CHiPs.

It was in 1980 that she originated the role of Miss Yvonne, the Most Beautiful Woman in Puppet Land, in Paul Reubens's stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show. HBO taped The Pee-wee Herman Show and aired it as a special the following year. The Pee-wee Herman Show would lead to the development of the live-action, Saturday morning show Pee-wee's Playhouse on which Lynne Marie Stewart once more played Miss Yvonne. She also played Miss Yvonne in the TV special Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse. In the Eighties she was a voice regular on the Saturday morning cartoons The Ri¢hie Ri¢h/Scooby-Doo Show, Laverne & Shirley in the Army, Superman, and A Pup Named Scooby-Doo..  She was one of the cast of the sketch comedy show On the Television. She guest starred on the shows Madame's Place, One Day at a Time, Laugh Trax, Laverne & Shirley, The Jeffersons, American Playhouse, The Duck Factory, Dynasty, Remington Steele, TV 101, A Peaceable Kingdom, Night Court, and The Golden Girls.

During the Eighties Lynne Marie Stewart appeared in the movies Pandemonium (1982),Young Doctors in Love (1982), Weekend Pass (1984), Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1986),\Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), Summer School (1987), The Running Man (1987), Moving (1988), and  Big Top Pee-wee (1988).

In the Nineties she was a regular on the show Night Stand. She was a voice on the animated cartoon Life with Louie. She guest starred on the shows WIOU, Empty NestIn the Heat of the Night, Batman: The Animated Series, Reasonable Doubts, The Ring of the MusketeersHerman's HeadHope & Gloria, The Tick, Dream On, Suddenly Susan, Caroline in the City, The Secret World of Alec Mack, Alright Already. Almost Perfect, Working,  and The Brian Benben Show. She appeare din the movies Double Trouble (1992), Clear and Present Danger (1994), Twin Sitters (1994), The Crazy Sitter (1994), Dunston Checks In (1996), Guinevere (1999), and Silicon Towers (1999).

It was in 2005 that Lynne Marie Sewart began playing Bonnie Kelly, Charlie's mom, on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Earlier in the decade of the Naughts she was a regular on Son of the Beach. She guest starred on the shows Spin City, The Brothers Garcia, According to Jim, Arrested Development, Significant Others, Grey's Anatomy, The Bad Girl's Guide, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Very Funny Show, American Body Shop, and State of the Union. She appeared in the films Enough (2002) and 50 Ways to Lose Your Lover (2004). She was a voice in the animated movie Barnyard (2006). She appeared as Miss Yvonne in the 2010 revival of The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway.

In the Teens she continued to appear on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She appeared on the shows Dating After Divorce, Austin & Alley, Good Luck Charlie, Child of the '70s, Benched, 2 Broke Girls, Go-Go Boy Interrupted, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Nobodies, The Cook Kids, and AJ and the Queen. She appeared in the movies Bridesmaids (2011), Sparks (2013), We've Got Balls (2013), and Hickey (2016)/. She was the voice of Aunt Harriet in the animated movies Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016) and Batman vs. Two-Face (2017). In the 2020s she continued to appear on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Lynne Marie Stewart was an incredibly funny woman, one of the funniest comedic actresses to work in television and on film from the Eighties to the 2020s. She was wonderful as Miss Yvonne, consistently cheerful while at the same time engaging innuendo (although they were toned down for Pee-wee's Playhouse. Among her other roles was Barbara, the cheating girlfriend of Squiggy in two episodes of Laverne & Shirley and a nun in an episode of The Golden Girls She had a gift for playing characters who, no matter how briefly they appeared, were always memorable. She was a fantastic talent.

Friday, February 21, 2025

Godspeed Olga James


Olga James, who played Cindy Lou in the movie Carmen Jones (1954), died on January 25 2025 at the age of 95.

Olga James was born in Washington, DC on February 16 1929. Her father was a saxophonist while her mother was a dancer. Her parents separated while she was still young and she was raised by her grandparents. She attended the Julliard School of Music, where she studied opera. Her first professional role came in 1952 when she performed in a production of Four Saints in Three Acts at a festival in France. She toured the Untied States with the all-Black revue Smart Affairs.

Olga James was the third member of the cast of Carmen Jones (1954) to be hired, after Harry Belafonte and Pearl Bailey. She made her television debut in 1955, singing at halftime during a game between the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals. She appeared on The Steve Allen Show and Sunday Night at the London Palladium. She appeared on Broadway in Mr. Wonderful in 1956. During the Fifties she was very much in demand as a nightclub performer.

In the late Sixties and early Seventies Olga James had a recurring role on The Bill Cosby Show. In the Seventies she was the voice of Mrs. Thomas on the animated series Sealab 2020. On stage she appeared in a production of A Raisin in the Sun in London and a tour of The King and I in 1963. In the Sixties and Seventies she appeared in Inner City Cultural Center productions in Los Angeles.

Olga James started training as a therapist in 1983. In 1989 she received a master's degree in psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles.

I am convinced that had Olga James been born in a later time she would have been a major start. She was certainly an incredible talent. She had a high octane voice capable of great range, making her performances in Carmen James particularly impressive. Olga James also had considerable charisma. Personally I found Cindy Lou more appealing than Carmen Jones. While Olga James might not have had a career filled with credits, she will certainly be remembered as a great talent.

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Julian Holloway Passes On

Julian Holloway, who appeared in  several "Carry On... films" and  appeared in a number of television shows, died on February 16 2025 at the age of 80 following a brief illness.

Julian Holloway was born on June 24 1944 in Watlington, Oxfordshire. His parents were actors Sterling Holloway and Violet Lane. He grew up in Penn, Buckinghamshire. He attended Harrow School in London, after which he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He was still at RADA when he made his film debut in Dentist on the Job (1961) and his television debut in an episode of The Avengers.He also guest starred on the American shows Fair Exchange and Our Man Higgins.

In the Sixties he appeared in the revue All Square, including a run in the West End at the Vaudeville theatre. He played a small role in The Beatles' movie A Hard Day's Night (1964) as Adrian, the assistant to the clueless ad man Simon Marshall (Kenneth Haigh) who tries without success to tell his boss that it is George Harrison to whom he is speaking. He also appeared in a small part in the Dave Clark Five movie Catch Us If You Can (1965). He made his first appearance in a "Carry On..." film in Carry On Doctor in 1967. He also appeared in the films Five to One (1963), Nothing But the Best (1964), The Knack...and How to Get It (1965), The Pleasure Girls (1965), The Jokers  (1967), Follow That Camel (1967), I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967), Carry On...Up the Khyber (1968), Hostile Witness (1969), The Last Shot You Hear  (1969), Carry On Camping (1969), Scream and Scream Again (1970), and Carry On Loving (1970).

During the Sixties Julian Holloway also appeared on stage in When Did Your Last See My Mother? which was performed by the English Stage Company at the Royal Court and then the Comedy Theatre. He played Corky in the TV series Ukrdige. He guest starred on the shows Our Man at St. Marks, The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre, First Night, The Saint, The Valiant Varneys, Gideon's Way, Pardon the Expression, King of the River, Before the Fringe, The Informer, The World of Wooster, ITV Play of the Week, City '68, The Liver Birds, Parkin's Patch, NBC Experiment in Television, W. Somerset Maugham, and Menace.

In the Seventies Julian Holloway was a regular on the TV show The Punch Review and he had a recurring role on Harriet's Back in Town. He appeared in one episode of the mini-series Elizabeth R. He guest starred on the shows Take Three Girls, The Shadow of the Tower, The Man from Haven, Dead of Night, The Edwardians, Conjugal Rights, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads, Ooh La La!, Bowler, Black and Blue, Helen: A Woman of Today, Marked Personal, BBC Play of the Month, Bedtime StoriesWodehouse Playhouse, Warship, Centre Play, Z-Cars, The Sweeney, Public Eye, Wodehouse Playhouse, Ten from the Twenties, Play for Today, The New Avengers, Jubilee, Seven Faces of Woman, Crown Court, BBC2 Play of the Week, Angels, The Professionals, A Horseman Riding By, Tilford's Change, and Keep It in the Family. He appeared in the mini-series Rebecca and the Christmas special Carry On Christmas. Julian Holloway appeared in the movies Carry On Henry (1971), Carry On at Your Convenience (1971), Young Winston (1972), The Stud (1974), The Hostages (1975), Carry On England (1976), Sammy;s Super T-Shirt (1978), Porridge (1979), The Great Rock 'n ' Roll Swindle (1980),  and Rough Cut (1980). Because of star Horst Janson's thick accent, Julian dubbed the voice of the title character in the movie Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974).

In the Eighties Julian Holloway guest starred on the TV shows Plays for Pleasure, Misfits, Minder,      Hallelujah!, BBC Play of the Month, Give Us a Break, Tall Tales & Legends, The Bill, Doctor Who, and The Chief, He appeared in the mini-series Nancy Astor, If Tomorrow Comes, The Endless Game, and A Season of Giants.

In the Nineties Julian Holloway was the voice of the villain Odlaw on the animated series Where's Wally? (Where's Waldo in the United States). He was also a regular voice on the animated series James Bond Jr. and Captain Zed and the Zee Zone. He guest starred on the shows Beverly Hills, 90120; Casualty; The Vet;; and Remember WENN.

In the Naughts he was the voice of Digby on the animated series Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future. He was also a regular on the animated series Father of the Pride. He was a voice in Disney's animated feature film A Christmas Carol (2009). In the Teens he had a recurring voice roles on the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Regular Show. He guest starred on the TV series Summer of Rockets. He appeared in the movie The Rum Diary (2011).

He also provided voices for various video games.

He was the father of model and actress Sophie Dahl with actress Tessa Dahl, the daughter of author Roald Dahl and actress Patricia Neal.

I think it is safe to say that Julian Holloway will remain best known for his various roles in the "Carry On..." films, where he played everything from a licentious bus driver in Carry On Camping to a military medical officer in Carry On England. And while he had a gift for comedy, he could play other roles.While Horst Janson may have provided the face and body of swashbuckling vampire hunter Captain Kronos, it was Julian Holloway who provided his voice. In the New Avengers episode "Gnaws," he played one of two scientists who steal the growth serum they developed from a government lab (while considered one of the worst episodes of the series, Julian Holloway is good in it). Julian Holloway was certainly a talented actor and one who was welcome in any movie or TV show episode, no matter how small his role.

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" by The Temptations

While they worked in another styles, The Temptations remain best known for such love songs as "My Girl," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," and "I Wish It Would Rain." Regardless, one of their most remarkable songs was not a love song, but a protest song instead. "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" remains one of the best known protest songs released by Motown, alongside "What's Going On' by Marvin Gaye.

"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" was written by Motown legends Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Together Messrs. Whitfield and Strong had already written such hits as ""Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got" for Jimmy Ruffin,  "I Heard It on the Grapevine" for Gladys Knight and The Pips (Marvin Gaye's version would be a huge hit for Motown),  "I Wish It Would Rain" (with Rodger Penzabene) for The Temptations, and "Cloud Nine" by The Temptations. Individually or with others, they wrote many more hits for Motown.

It was with their previous songs such as "Cloud Nine" and "Runaway Child" that The Temptations had begun to move away from the love songs they had recorded into a new sound that would be called "psychedelic soul." "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" was the fifth single to be released using this new sound.

Of course, as can be heard in "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today," The Temptations changed not only their overall sound, but their lyrical content. Instead of love and heartbreak, their songs now covered the issues of the day such as civil rights, poverty, drugs, and the Vietnam War. "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" embraced many issues, given it addressed the general state of the United States in the late Sixties and early Seventies. The song makes reference to segregation, pills, taxes, unemployment, and many other topics of the day.

"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today" was recorded at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit on April 12 and 14 1970. The instrumental track was recorded by The Funk Brothers, the group of session musicians who preformed the music on nearly all of Motown's songs from 1959 to 1972. They recorded nearly eleven minutes worth of music, although ultimately only four minutes was use for the single. The entire instrumental track could later be heard on The Undisputed Truth's cover of the  song on their self-titled debut album.

"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" was released on May 7 1970. It peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart and no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It did well in Britain as well, where it reached no. 7 on the UK singles chart. Although inspired by the events of the late Sixties and early Seventies, "Ball of Confusion ((That's What the World is Today") remains all to relevant today.


Monday, February 17, 2025

Miss Topsy: African American Burlesque Star


When people think of the stars of burlesque, they tend to think of dancers like Gypsy Rose Lee, Lili St. Cyr, Tempest Storm, and Blaze Starr. All of these performers were white, but even in the mid-20th Century there were burlesque stars of other ethnicities. Among the most legendary burlesque dancers was Miss Topsy, one of the earliest Black women to become an international star in the field.

Sadly, while there are quite a few pictures of Miss Topsy to be found online, there is little in the way of information. What little I know abut her I found in social media posts by photographer Neil "Nez "Kendall, a few blog posts, and old newspaper articles found on Newspapers.Com and Newspaper Archive.

Miss Topsy was born Mary Elizabeth Thompson in St., Louis around 1942. She had been a secretary to the assessor in St. Louis prior to moving to Hollywood where she became a pin-up and lingerie model there. She was dancing at a Los Angeles Club when a saxophone player introduced her to talent agent Coralie Jr., who was well-known for launching the careers of offbeat performers. It was not long before Miss Topsy became a star in burlesque.

So popular was Miss Topsy that she was even able to tour the Deep South when many Black performers were not always welcome there. She even performed overseas. She had a long residency at the Raymond Review Bar in London in 1963. In 1964 she performed at the Gay 90s in Minneapolis and even had an article about her published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. In 1968 Miss Topsy performed at the Yum Yum in Kansas City, Missouri. She even danced in such places as France, much of Europe, and Japan. She also continued to be a popular pinup model in many men's magazines of the era. It was in 1973 that she decided to retire. and settle down. She died in 2021

I honestly wish I knew more about Miss Topsy. First, she was born in my home state of Missouri. Second, she was a true pioneer. She was a Black woman who made a name for herself and became a success when  racial segregation was a none too distant memory and discrimination was still a standard practice. She blazed a trail for other African Americans when it came to performing in burlesque. Finally, as one can see from her pictures, she was seriously pretty. I can easily understand why she was so popular.